Trails where you can get your tipple on are trending. There’s the Charlottesville Ale Trail, the Brew Ridge Trail, and the Nelson 151 Trail. The newest trail is the Fermentation Farm Trail—and it has an intriguing twist.
Featuring six breweries, cideries, and wineries in Louisa County, this trail sets itself apart with its emphasis on the agricultural aspects of the spirits industry—each destination is a working farm growing its own beverage ingredients. They have a shared focus on recognizing the history and geography of the area. Each has a commitment to implement sustainable practices that preserve the land for generations to come.
“We thought it was important to demonstrate how breweries, wineries, and cideries are agriculture-related at the core,” says Tracy Hale Clark, executive director of the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce.
The Fermentation Farm Trail is the result of a Virginia Tourism Corporation grant and a collaboration between Visit Louisa, the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce, and a collection of individual breweries, cideries, and wineries.
“It’s nice to be able to work in an industry where your competitors aren’t your competitors—you’re supporting each other,” says Sheridan Grime of Southern Revere Cellars, one of the destinations on the trail. “That’s a valuable thing that we get to be a part of, and the trail cements that.”
Just a short drive from Charlottesville, the stops are all within a 10-mile radius of one another. Pick up a passport at a participating location, and collect a stamp when you visit each one. There’s a suggested route you can take, but you set the pace. Check off each spot in one weekend or come back to visit one or two locations at a time. The stamps don’t expire, so there’s no rush. Once you’ve visited all six stops along the tasting trail, you get a commemorative stemmed Belgian-style glass.
“We want to give people a feel for what it’s like to grow and make our own beverages,” says John Pope of Cooling Pond Brewery. “We’re sitting on a farm; we have our crops growing nearby. You’re a little more connected to your product than just a tap coming through a wall. You don’t feel like you’re sitting in a parking lot or strip mall, and that’s really what sets us apart from most beverage trails.”
All the family-friendly breweries, cideries, and wineries have their own comfortable tasting room, outdoor areas, and scenic views of the rural landscape. On the weekends, most have festivals, and events with live music, food trucks, and small business vendors. With Lake Anna nearby, there are plenty of other things to see and do while you’re in the area.
JOY RIDE
For a rural retreat and luxurious libations, visit each of these farm-to-glass destinations.
Cooling Pond Brewery
This family-owned brewery crafts English-inspired beers as well as rotating selections in an idyllic setting. coolingpondbrewery.com
Coyote Hole Ciderworks
Surrounded by 37 acres of forest, the cidery offers a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy their craft beers, sangrias, and hard ciders. coyotehole.com
Everleigh Vineyards & Brewing Company
Take in the views from the two-story tasting room while you try wines made exclusively from their own grapes, and their newly added beer and cider. everleighvineyards.com
53rd Winery
Eco-friendly spaces and strong selection of wines stand out at this vineyard, named in honor of it being the 53rd farm winery to be licensed in Virginia—in 1999. 53rdwinery.com
Lake Anna Winery
With a wide selection of award-winning wines, there’s a red, white, or sweet wine to please any palette and honor any occasion. lawinery.com
Southern Revere Cellars
Named for local historic figure Jack Jouett
(the “Paul Revere of the South”), this
family owned and operated farm crafts signature beers and wines to sip and savor. southernrevere.com—LD